Aerospace

Aerospace

CEROBEAR is highly focused on developing and growing its aerospace business and is actively serving hybrid bearings for a wide range of aerospace segments including: gearboxes and transmissions for helicopters, aero-engines and auxiliary power units (APU)/ space mechanism & rockets/ surveillance systems/ aerospace accessories/ hot air valves & air management systems.

CEROBEAR serves all kinds of players in the aerospace industry from the original equipment manufacturers (OEM) to their suppliers.

The CEROBEAR difference

CEROBEAR serves its aerospace customers by supplying high performance, highly customized hybrid bearings in 14 – 20 weeks delivery time together with a customized service package.

With its continuous drive for innovation, CEROBEAR uses advanced materials and components and works very closely with its customers to deliver bearings with maximized performance and reliability. Our ability to custom engineer and manufacuture all kinds of bearing features in extremely short delivery times makes CEROBEAR the perfect development partner.

CEROBEAR’s ceramic bearing technology guarantees:

significant weight savings

oil-off capability

life-time increase (MTBO)

freedom from maintenance

high rotational speed and load capability

high corrosion and wear resistance

Space

Space Mechanisms
CEROBEAR bearings for space applications are customized and perfectly adapted to a long service life with highest accuracy and low friction. For low speed bearings, which are typically used in space mechanisms, space qualified materials and coatings are available. For very special requirements, new materials like enhanced bearing steel and ceramic are also applied. In all cases, we work closely with system designers to meet all requirements for performance and life.

Space Propulsion & Turbopumps
CEROBEAR’s aerospace heritage began in early 2000 with the first flight of ceramic cylindrical rollers in the bearings of the USA Space Shuttle’s main engine liquid hydrogen pumps. Performing flawlessly for nearly 40 missions, the ceramic rollers operated at 36,200 rpm in temperatures of -423°F (-250°C) while being lubricated by only liquid hydrogen. CEROBEAR’s solution improved the time between overhaul for the engines by a factor of 12 (increasing life), while increasing payload by 9% (increasing performance & reducing cost), and reducing maintenance hours between missions from 1000 hours to <50 hours (reducing costs).

Helicopters

CEROBEAR hybrid bearings are a perfect solution for gearbox, engine, and transmission bearings in helicopters and other aircraft.
The use of ceramic rolling elements offers a considerable amount of weight saving in engines and drive train. This weight savings can be increased further by using PEEK cages where application conditions allow. CEROBEAR also exactly adapts inner bearing geometry to the application requirements to minimize contact stress. CEROBEAR’s production technology allows complex bearing designs which allow a higher degree of integration of the bearings into the system reducing part count and increasing simplicity.

The use of Si3N4 ceramic rolling elements offers extraordinary bearing performance under oil-off conditions in gearbox and engine. In grease lubricated transmission bearings, the life time of the grease can be prolonged resulting in a longer service life for the bearings which increases the time between re-greasing intervals and can even allow “for-life” lubrication.

CEROBEAR hybrid bearings are a perfect solution for gearbox, engine, and transmission bearings in helicopters and other aircraft. The use of ceramic rolling elements offers a considerable amount of weight saving in engines and drive train. This weight savings can be increased further by using PEEK cages where application conditions allow. CEROBEAR also exactly adapts inner bearing geometry to the application requirements to minimize contact stress. CEROBEAR’s production technology allows complex bearing designs which allow a higher degree of integration of the bearings into the system reducing part count and increasing simplicity. The use of Si3N4 ceramic rolling elements offers extraordinary bearing performance under oil-off conditions in gearbox and engine. In grease lubricated transmission bearings, the life time of the grease can be prolonged resulting in a longer service life for the bearings which increases the time between re-greasing intervals and can even allow “for-life” lubrication.

Hot Air Valves

In hot air valves, bearings currently operate at high temperatures (up to 450°C, 842°F) and for the next generation of valves, the temperatures are expected to be even higher (up to 600°C, 1112°F). To operate under such extreme temperatures as well as typically high loads with shaft bending, CEROBEAR hybrid bearings are designed with BG42®, CSS-42L®, or other high temperature metal rings plus Si3N4 rolling elements, and high temperature cages (if required). We apply either ball or roller hybrid bearing designs depending on what is required. Our bearings run dry.
In the future as temperatures rise, we expect new innovative materials such as PM-steel or ceramic rings to be incorporated.

Surveillance Systems

High precision, light loads, and limited space are typical requirements for surveillance systems. CEROBEAR’s constant section bearings serve these needs. A customized solution with integrated flanges minimizes the number of parts, simplifies the assembly and provides excellent bearing performance in terms of stiffness, runout, and friction.